Conductor Biographies

JERRY LUCKHARDT - PRINCIPAL CONDUCTOR

Jerry Luckhardt is Associate Director of Bands and conductor of the Symphonic Band and the New Music Ensemble at the University of Minnesota. Luckhardt is also professor of conducting and coordinates all aspects of the undergraduate conducting curriculum at the University of Minnesota.

The scope of Luckhardt's conducting background complements his ensemble accomplishments. He has appeared as a guest conductor and clinician with ensembles around the world. He is a member in the College Band Directors National Association, Music Educators National Conference, Minnesota Band Directors Association, Phi Beta Lambda, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Kappa Kappa Psi and Tau Beta Sigma. Among his myriad accomplishments, Luckhardt was selected as the conductor of the 2000-2001 Minnesota All-State Concert Band and is also the music director for the Bloomington Medalist Band.

With a wide and varied background, Luckhardt brings to his current position experiences from some of the finest music programs in the nation. He has been on the faculty at Baylor University, the University of Texas, the University of Michigan, and the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He also has three years of public school teaching experience in Michigan and Missouri.

Jerry, his wife Tami, and their three children live in Apple Valley.

CHARLES B. OLSON - CONDUCTOR EMERITUS

In addition to his role as founding director and principal conductor of the Encore Wind Ensemble, Charles B. Olson has been director of the Bethel College Concert Band from 1978 until his retirement in 1998. At Bethel, he was coordinator of instrumental music and instructor of instrumental conducting, brass and woodwind pedagogies, music education and private trumpet. He also supervised student teachers and conducted the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, and Jazz Ensemble.

Mr. Olson holds a bachelor of science degree from St. Cloud University and a master of arts degree from the University of Northern Colorado, where he has also completed extensive doctoral-level study. He has a broad background in public school music education, having taught at elementary, junior high and senior high levels.

His conducting teachers have included Frederick Fennell, Wayman Walker, Elizabeth Green, Gene Corporan, Craig Kirchkoff and H. Robert Reynolds. Mr. Olson is a sought-after clinician, conductor, and adjudicator in the United States and Canada.